Fireplace-furnace.



M. J. FARQUHAR. FIREPLACE FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1911.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. J. FARQUHAR. FIREPLACE FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1911.

1 ?5 99 Patented Oct. 14, 1913 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0" WASHINGTON, D. c

M. J. FARQUHAR. FIREPLACE FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1911.

1,075,909. Patented 001;. 14, 1913 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

, Wm M J9 0 5?? M. J. FARQUHAR. FIREPLACE FURNACE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1911.

1,?5,909. Patented 001;. 14, 1913.

4 SHEETSSHBET 4.

CDLUMIIA PLANQGRAPH 0.,WASHING1ON, D. c.

ion.

MILTON J. FAEQUHABI, OF 'VVIIIMINGTGN, DHIO.

FIREPLACE-FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14,1913.

Application filed September 22, 1911. Serial No. 650,853.

To ((36 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILroN J. FARQUHAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vilmington, in the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireplace-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a fireplace furnace, and the object of the invention is to provide a furnace of such construction that it may be located directly adjacent a hearth and open fireplace, thereby obtaining all the comforts and advantages of an open fire without per initting the smoke or other products of combustion to pass into the room.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for effecting thorough ventilation of the room without impairing the heating efficiency of the furnace or consuming an excessive quantity of fuel.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully described, the novel features of the invention being subsequently pointed out in the claims at the end of the descrip tion.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation, with parts broken away and in section, of a fireplace having my improved furnace therein. Fig. 2 is a view showing the fireplace in top plan view and parts of the chimney and vertical lines in horizontal sec tion. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line 44: of Fig. 1. *ig. 5 is a view showing the firebox in side el vation and the parts adjacent there to in vertical section. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on the line 7-? of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the lever mechanism by which the gate for closing the front of the fireplace is caused to move evenly and smoothly when being raised or lowered. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a portion of one of the said levers. Fig. 10 is a detail horizontal sectional view of a portion of the gate and a front corner of the firebox. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of one end'of the grille or grate set in the hearth immediately in front of the firebox. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of a lower-corner of the gate. Fig. 13 is a detail transverse section of the same. Fig. 14 is a detail sectional perspective view of a portion of the grille or perforated plate in the hearth, showing the depending flange or angle iron with which the governor valve cooperates. Fig. 15 is a detail longitudinal. section of the said grille and a portion of the damper or valve below the same. Figs. 16 and 17 are detail sectional views of a portion of the governor mechanism by which the said governor valve is controlled, showing different positions of the same. Fig. 18 is a detail perspective view of the levers shown in section in Figs. 16 and 17. Fig. 19 is a detail view of a modified arrangement of the levers supporting the gate. Fig. 20 is a detail view of a grate bar and the link connected thereto for shaking the same. Fig. 21 is a detail perspective view of the upper end of a lifting link showing the manner of supporting the same.

In carrying out my invention, a large fireplace is built with its front and rear walls, 1 and 2, extending through the cellar to the foundation of the building so as to provide a large ash pit 3, in which the ashes may be deposited directly from the grate of the furnace and may be permitted to accumulate so that frequent removal of the same will not be necessary. A partition wall t is built within the space between the walls 1 and 2, and is connected with the rear wall 2 by a horizontal shelf 5, the said partition wall 4 being formed preferably of firebrick and constituting the bridge wall of the furnace. lhe walls 1 and 2 extend up through the first story of the building, and the front wall is constructed with an arch or fireplace opening, as shown at 6. Above the fireplace opening this wall may be made to support a mantel or other device, and is preferably built of glazed or ornamental brick so as to impart a pleasing appearance to the room, while near the ceiling of the room a register, 7, may be set into the said wall to permit the escape of hot air from the hot air chamber over the furnace into the room.

Adjacent the front wall of the chimney, an angle iron 8 is set in the end wall of the chimney and extends entirely across the same to support the firebrick 9 constituting the front of the firebox, the bottom of which is formed by grate bars 10, having their rear ends supported by the partition wall 4L and having their front ends slightly depressed below the angle plate 8, as shown in Fig. 3, the said grate bars being attached to links or rods 11, which extend upwardly therefrom and are supported in any convenient manner upon the hearth, so that by raising and lowering the said rods or links the grate bars will be vibrated and the ashes shaken therefrom. By supporting the grate ba-rs at an inclination, as shown, a slight space is left at the front of the grate to permit clinkers to be worked out from the fire, said space being normally choked by the fuel and ashes so as to prevent loss of live coals. The space between the front wall 1 of the chimney and the front 9 of the firebox constitutes a draft flue by which air is conveyed to the space below the grate. ffhile the wall 9 is preferably solely of firebrick, it may form a water back, either in whole or in part, whereby to supply hot water for domestic purposes, or a hot-water heating coil may be arranged, therein to supplement the hot-air heating. A hearth 12, of tiling or other material, may be set in the floor of the room in front of the fireplace opening 6, and between the said hearth and the upper edge of the firebox front wall 9, I arrange a hearth plate or grille l3, preferably consisting of a metallic plate having perforations or openings 14 therethrough, and having depending flanges 15 at its front and rear edges whereby it may be supported upon the walls 1 and 9, and may be permitted to expand or contract without becoming separated from the said walls. A grate front or basket 102 is arranged in rear of the hearth plate and over the wall 9 to serve as an ornamental fender. A sheet metal shell or firebox l6 surrounds the partition or bridge wall a, and is spaced rearwardly thererrom to provide a down-draft or diving fiue, the upper end of the said shell being inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the opening 6 of the fireplace so as to provide a large heat chamber 1'? about the said bridge wall at. The lower edge of the back-plate of the said firebox terminates above the lower horizontal wall or shelf 5, and is then carried rearwardly so as to be supported by the wall 2, as shown at 18. The space between the lower edge of the firebox l6 and the wall or shelf 5 constitutes a horizontal fine 19 leading into a vertical smoke flue 20 which is disposed at one side of the chimney and extends to the top thereof. An indirect draft through the fire chamber is thus provided so that the air to support combustion will be drawn from the room through the grille 13, and then downward in front of the front wall 9 of the fire chamber, thence upwardly through the grate and the firebox, over the upper end of the bridge wall 4, then downwardly between the said wall and the backplate of the firebox 16 into the flue 19, and thence through the chimney, as will be readily understood. This circulation not only supports combustion but draws from the room the foul air which may have collected therein so that ventilation of the room is automatically effected.

The front wall 9 of the firebox may be of any desired height, and the grate bars may be set nearer to or farther from the hearth so as to vary the dimensions of the furnace, as may be required by the size of the building to be heated or the nature of the fuel to be used. The smoke and heated air rising from the fire and passing over the bridge wall l will pass in direct contact with the sheet metal walls of the firebox so as to raise the temperature of the same, as will be readily understood, but the soot and other waste products will be collected upon the shelf 5, so that all deposits will be adjacentmasonry and corrosion of the metallic parts will consequently be avoided. l urthermore, the firebox or shell 16 is formed of large plates of sheet steel having their joints welded together so that leakage of smoke and gases is positively prevented. I

The air to be heated enters from the outside of the building through an inletflue 21, which may be carried from any point outside of the building through the cellar to the wall 2, and communicates with the space between the said wall and the backplate of the sheet metal firebox, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The said space constitutes a vertical fresh air fiue 22, and opens into a large fresh air chamber 23, above the fireplace, from which the registers 7 communicate with the several rooms uponthe same level as the furnace and hot air fines 24L carry the heated air to the rooms in the upper stories. As shown most clearly in Figv 2, the sheet metal firebox or shell is not as wide as the chimney, and the air space 22 consequently passes around the ends of the shell as well as in rear thereof so that a very large heating surface is provided to quickly raise the temperature of the incoming air. Thorough heating of the building is thereby accomplished without consuming a great quantity of fuel, and the furnace may be economically operated.

Adjacent the floor, I provide return air registers 25 in the walls defining the chimney, which open into the fresh air space 22, and, above the firebox, deflector 26, of sheet metal, extends across the chimney so that the air passing from the room through the registers 25 will he held close to the shell before escaping into the hot-air chamber to mingle with the incoming fresh air. The registers 25 open into large chambers at the sides of the chimney which have closed tops, as shown at 27, and the inner side walls 28 of which terminate short of masonry shelves 207 extending between the chimney walls and the firebox. The return air passing from the room through the registers is, consequently, caused to pass downward and then inward to the firebox and will be held close to the same and will pass over the en tire end walls and top thereof. It will thus be thoroughly heated before passing from under the deflector to mingle with the incoming fresh air.

The foul air passes off through a vent flue 29, built in the chimney in front of the smoke fine 20, and is admitted thereto from a vent box 30, the deflector 26 being secure to and projecting from the back of said vent box. The end of the vent box distant from the vent flue 29 is closed and its bottom is open and communicates with the open front of the fireplace as clearly shown in Fig. 8. A gate or closure 31 is mounted to move vertically within this vent-box and, when in its lower position, will rest upon the grille 13, so as to entirely cover the front of the fireplace. In order to prevent the gate leaving an opening over the grille 13, when it is lowered, I provide a reinforcing strip 32 at the end of the gate which is adapted to ride upon an inclined or wedge-shaped upstanding rib at the end of the grille and be thereby carried inward against the front edge of the side-plate 34 of the firebox. as shown clearly in Fig. 10. A horizontal flange 35 is provided at the lower end of the gate so as to rest squarely upon the grille and form a close joint therewith so that, when the gate is lowered, access of air di rectly to the firebox will be effectually prevented. hen the gate is lowered, a slight open space will be provided between the front of the arch and the gate, through which foul air from the room may readily pass into the vent-box and escape through the open end of the same to the vent-flue 29, and thence pass outside the building, but the rearwardly projecting flange 310 at the top of the gate will rest upon the front end of the firebox and thereby close the vent-box to the smoke besides aiding in the support of the gate. lVhen the gate is raised, a slight opening will be provided between the lower edge of the same and the top of the firebox, so that any smoke which may be in the firebox will be drawn into the vent-box and thence escape through the vent-flue instead of passing out into the room.

In order that the gate may not bind against any of the adjacent parts, and will move easily and with very little effort when it is desired to raise or lower the same. I provide counterbalance weights 36 on the ends of intersecting levers 37, which are connected with the gate by links or suspension rods 38. The levers 37 are arranged behind the arch and above the gate. and are pivotally connected at the point of intersection. It is necessary to have the weighted ends of both levers in front of the ends to which the links 38 are pivoted, and to accomplish this result 1 form slits 39 in the opposed edges of the said levers so that the levers may be inter-engaged around the pivotal bolt 40 connecting the same. To accommodate the circular movement of the levers, I have shown them as pivoted to brackets 41, provided at their upper ends with overlapping tongues 42, connected by a pivot pin 43 and having their outer ends resting loosely in stirrups or hangers 44, secured upon the rear surface of the arch wall.

The levers, being pivotally connected and being supported in such manner as to accommodate the circular movement, will swing easily when the gate is raised or low ered and will eflectually counterbalance the same so as to keep it in one plane and permit it to be raised or lowered with very slight effort.

lVhile the construction just described, and illustrated in Fig. 8, has been found very efficient, a simpler mechanism may be sometimes emolo ed consisting of fixed )ins 45, l .i 7

mounted in the arch wall and engaging slots 46 in the levers, as shown in Fig. 19.

To attain the highest possible efficiency, I provide means for automatically regulating the main. draft through the grille 13 and the firebox consisting of a damper or valve 47 supported loosely at one end upon a bolt 48, secured in the grille and depending therefrom, and having its opposite or free end resting upon a lifter 49, rising from a regulating lever 50. When the damper 47 is in its raised position it will fit close against the angle irons 51, depending from the grille 13 and forming an inclosure for the perforations 14 in the same, so that the draft through the said perforations will be cutoff. Then the damper is lowered, of course the draft through the perforations will be opened and a supply of air will be admitted through the grate to the firebox and combustion thereby promoted. The lever 50 which carries the lifter 49 extends to the rear side of the firebox and is supported at its rear end by a rod 52, which is preferably in the form of an open link or loop having its bight hung on the upper corner of the firebox, as shown at 53, and its ends passed through the rear end of the lever and equipped with nuts 54 to support the lever. The lever is provided with a rocker or fulcrum on its under side. which rests upon the said nuts 54, and the extremity of the lever is upturned, as shown at thereby forming a lip against which an adjusting lever 57 rests. This lever 57 is provided with a rocker rib or fulcrum 58 n its upper side adapted to bear against the bottom of the firebox and the free end of the said adjusting lever carries a. link or adjusting rod 59 which extends up through the grille 13 and is preferably provided with a series of knobs or lugs 60, any one of which may be made to engage the upper face of the grille, whereby the adjusting rod and the lever may be held at any desired height. When the said rod is drawn upward, the front end of the lever 57 will, of course, be drawn upward and the rear end of the same made to swing downwardly so that the governor lever 50 will be made to bear firmly upon the retaining nuts 54 and will hold the rod 52 tight so that a very high temperature will be needed to cause sufficient expansion of the firebox to cause upward movement of the rod. When the upward movement of the rod occurs, the lever 50 will be raised and the lifter 49 will then close the damper t? so as to cut ofi the draft. As before stated, the joints or seams of the firebox are welded. In the welding operation, a small knob or projection is formed at the upper corner of the box so that the bight of the rod 52 may be readily engaged over the said knob or projection and thereby hung upon the firebox without any liability of being dislodged. As the firebox is heated it will, of course, expand and the rod 59 will operate, as stated, to close the damper and cut off the draft. The raising of the temperature of the fire to an unnecessary degree and waste of fuel is thereby prevented. Of course, as the fire dies down the parts will move in the reverse direction so that the draft will be again opened and the fire caused to rekindle. The fire is thus automatically regulated so that the tempenture of the building may be easily maintained at any desired degree.

The advantages of my improved fireplace furnace will, it is thought, be readily appreciated from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The furnace, being located at about the fioor level of the room, has all the picturesque effect of an open fire, and the construction of the parts is such as to prevent the smoke and impure gases created by combustion, from passing into the room. \Vhen the gate 31 is raised, the fire may be viewed and the natural draft from the room across the fire will keep the smoke and gases toward the bridge wall so that they will pass over the said bridge wall and down behind the same to the flue 19, whence they escape to the outside of the building. Furthermore, the use of the independent vent flue utilizes to the greatest degree possible the heat derived from the passage of the escaping current of warm air into the downdraft or diving flue, in that any cool air which may flow to the upper part of the fire chamber will escape therethrough, instead of entering the diving fine with consequent cooling effect thereon, should said vent flue be omitted. The regulating rod 59 for adjusting the governing mechanism and the grate-shifting rods 11 are accessible from the hearth so that the fire may be tended without the necessity of going into the cellar, and without excessive labor. The several parts of the apparatus are simple in construction and the furnace may be installed at a low cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is l. A fireplace furnace comprising a firebox, a flue set off from the fire box for carrying off the products of combustion and an independent vent flue beside the first named fine communicating with the fire-box through a restricted opening at the upper front edge of the latter and being constantly open for carrying off foul air from in front of the furnace.

2. A fireplace comprising adiving fiue leading from the upper part of the fire chamber, an air heating chamber arranged to be heated by said diving fine, and a continuously open vent fine leading from the upper and forward portion of the fire chamber, whereby the cool air flowing to the upper part of the fire chamber may be conducted away by said vent flue instead of passing into said diving fine.

3. A fireplace furnace comprising a firebox having an open front, a vent fine at one side of the firebox, and a vent box arranged over the front of the firebox and opening at its bottom into said firebox, one end of said vent box being closed and the opposite end opening into the vent flue.

d. A fireplace furnace comprising a firebox having an open front, a vent fine at one side of the firebox, a vent box arranged over the front of the firebox and opening at its bottom into said fire-box, one end of said vent box being closed. and the opposite end opening into the vent fine, and a gate movable through the opening in the bottom of the vent box to close the front of the firebox and spaced from both the front and rear margins of said opening, whereby a portion of the latter is left unobstructed in the raised position and also in the lowered position of said gate.

A fireplace furnace comprising a firebox, a fresh air chamber surrounding the same, a deflector extending across said chamber and spaced from the top of the firebox, and return air fiues opening into said air chamber below said deflector, whereby said return air is held for a time close to the top of said firebox.

6. A fireplace furnace comprising a fire box, a fresh air chamber surrounding the same, a vent flue, a vent box opening into said fine and arranged over the front of the firebox, said vent box also opening at its bottom into said firebox, a deflector arranged over the fresh air chamber and projecting from said vent box above the top of the firebox, and return air flues opening into said fresh air chamber below said deflector, whereby said return air is held for a time close to the top of said firebox.

7. A fireplace furnace comprising a firebox, a smoke flue, an independent vent flue in communication with said firebox through an opening at the front edge of its top, a gate movable through said opening to close the front of the firebox, and a rearwardly projecting flange at the top of the gate adapted to engage the rear wall of the opening and cut off communication between the vent flue and fire-box when said gate is closed.

8. A fireplace furnace, comprising a firebox, a smoke flue, an independent vent flue in communication with said fire-box through an opening at the front edge of its top, a gate movable through said opening to close the front of the fire-box, and a rearwardly projecting flange at the top of the gate adapted to engage the rear wall of the opening and cut off communication between the vent flue and fire-box when said gate is closed, said vent flue being open at the front of the gate in both the lowered and raised positions of the latter.

9. The combination with a chimney, of a fireplace furnace comprising a fire-box, a diving flue leading from the fire-box, an airheating chamber arranged to be heated by said diving flue and an independent vent flue in communication with said fire-box at the upper front edge of the latter and arranged side by side with the smoke flue in the chimney.

10. A fireplace comprising a diving flue leading from the upper part of the fire chamber, an air heating chamber arranged to be heated by said diving flue, a return air passage communicating with said air heating chamber, and a continuously open vent flue leading from the upper and forward portion of the fire chamber, whereby the cool air flowing to the upper part of the fire chamber may be conducted away by said vent flue instead of passing into said diving flue.

11. The combination with a chimney, of a fireplace furnace comprising a fire-box, a diving flue leading from the fire-box, an air chamber arranged to be heated by said diving flue, a return air passage communicating with said air heating chamber, and an independent vent flue in communication with said fire-box at the upper front edge of the latter and arranged side by side with the smoke flue in the chimney.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

MILTON J. FARQUHAR.

Witnesses:

CHAS. E. BIORDAN, R. WV. BIsHor.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

